President Donald Trump stated Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured him throughout a telephone name Tuesday that India would wind down purchases of Russian oil, a attainable reprieve to their commerce deadlock.
Trump stated on the White Home throughout a Diwali celebration that the 2 leaders had “talked about a whole lot of issues, however principally the world of commerce — he’s very involved in that.” Modi acknowledged the decision in a social media publish on Wednesday, with out mentioning the content material of the dialogue.
Trump hit India with 50% tariffs on its exports to the US partly to strain New Delhi to cease shopping for Russian oil and to counter what the US has solid as excessive levies and different limitations on American items.
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The US president stated final week that he had obtained assurances from Modi that India would cease shopping for oil from Russia, transactions seen by Ukraine’s allies as buoying the Kremlin’s economic system and struggle effort. New Delhi hasn’t confirmed whether or not it might comply and the Ministry of Exterior Affairs stated it wasn’t conscious of a name between Trump and Modi final week.
On Tuesday, Trump appeared to sign that India would curb moderately than halt purchases of Russian power.
“He’s not going to purchase a lot oil from Russia,” Trump stated. “He needs to see that struggle finish as a lot as I do. He needs to see the struggle finish with Russia, Ukraine, and as , they’re not going to be shopping for an excessive amount of oil.”
In a publish on X, Modi thanked Trump for the “heat Diwali greetings.” The Indian embassy didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon the decision. The White Home additionally didn’t instantly reply to a request for extra particulars.
Thanks, President Trump, on your telephone name and heat Diwali greetings. On this pageant of lights, could our two nice democracies proceed to light up the world with hope and stand united in opposition to terrorism in all its varieties.@realDonaldTrump @POTUS
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 22, 2025
Trump has softened his rhetoric on India in current weeks as the 2 nations perform talks to clinch a commerce deal and decrease tariffs. Any effort to reduce Russian power buys could be a gradual course of, and Modi’s authorities has beforehand indicated that the nation would proceed to make these purchases whether it is economically viable.
The 2 sides are narrowing their variations over commerce and are working towards an settlement that might see the tariff fee on Indian items lowered to 15-16%, Mint newspaper reported Wednesday, citing unidentified individuals acquainted with the matter. Commerce negotiators from New Delhi made stable progress of their talks within the US final week, an official stated on the weekend.
India turned a significant importer of Russian crude after the beginning of the struggle in Ukraine in 2022, shopping for oil at a reduction. Russian oil makes up a few third of India’s total imports regardless of the US push to curb flows.
Trump and Modi have been at odds over the US president’s claims that he used commerce as leverage to dealer a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in Might. Whereas Pakistan has embraced that assertion — and nominated Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize — Modi and Indian officers have bristled on the notion that the US pressured them right into a ceasefire.
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